By-Laws of the Ohio Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling ARTICLE I Section 1: Name The official name of the organization shall be the Ohio Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Value Issues in Counseling (OSERVIC), a Division of the Ohio Counseling Association (OCA). (Referred to as Association or OSERVIC throughout the Bylaws.) Section 2: Mission The mission of the Association shall be: OASERVIC is an organization of counselors and human development professionals who are convinced that spiritual, ethical and religious values are essential to the full development of the person and to the discipline of counseling. OASERVIC creates an environment which empowers and enables the expression, exploration, development and research of evolving spiritual, ethical and religious values dimensions as they relate to the person, to society, and to the profession of counseling and human development. ARTICLE II Membership Section 1: Membership Requirements (a) Eligibility Members must meet OCA requirements for regular membership, have membership in OCA, have professional commitment to uphold the purposes and principles of OASERVIC and have shown evidence of interest and contributions in values, theology, and philosophy as they relate to the development of people. (b) Procedure Any person desiring to become a member of OASERVIC shall make application to OCA and shall become a member of OASERVIC upon approval of the application and the payment of dues. (c) Obligation and Privileges A member must pay annual dues to OASERVIC and OCA. A member in good standing shall be entitled to vote, to attend meetings or OASERVIC, and shall be eligible to hold office in the Association. Section 2: Types of Members This Association shall include two types of membership – professional, and student. (a) Professional Membership: Professional members must hold a Masters degree, it’s equivalent or higher in counseling or a closely related field (b) Student Membership: Any student at the college level having interest in the area of human development, counseling, personnel work or related areas and is endorsed by a faculty advisor, shall be eligible to become a student member of the Association with all the privileges of regular membership for a period not exceeding three (3) years. Section 3: Dues (a) Annual Association dues for members shall be established by action for the OCA Executive Board. Section 4: Severance of Membership (a) A member may be dropped from membership for any conduct that injures the Association or to affect adversely its reputation, or that is contrary to or destructive of its mission according to the Bylaws and the OCA Code of Ethics. If the person is dropped from OCA membership, after having had a hearing by the OCA Ethics Committee, that person shall also be dropped from membership of OASERVIC. (b) A member shall be dropped from membership for nonpayment of dues. Article III Officers of the Association Section 1: Officers and Terms of Office (a) The officers of the Association shall be the President, the President Elect, the immediate Past President, the Treasurer, and the Secretary, all whom must be members of the Association. (b) All officers of the Association, except the Treasurer, and the Secretary, shall be elected at large from among the regular members of the Association and shall serve for a one (1) year term or until their successors are elected and assume office. (c) The Treasurer shall be appointed by the President. (d) The Secretary shall be appointed by the President. (e) Elected officers shall not be candidates to succeed themselves in office. (f) In the event of the death or resignation of an elected officer, other than the President or President – Elect, a replacement shall be appointed on the recommendation of the President to serve out the expired term of office. (g) An elected/appointed officer shall not serve in two (2) offices at the same time. (h) The term of any elected officer of the Association , unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws, shall begin on July 1, and shall be for a period of one (1) year or until successor is appointed. Section 2: Duties of Officers (a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and at meetings of the OCA Executive Committee. The President shall appoint the chairpersons of all committees. The President shall delegate tasks to the officers of the Association. (b) The President – Elect shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President. The President – Elect shall assume the Presidency of the Association upon the death or resignation of the President. The President – Elect shall appoint the members of all committees in accordance with the exception as otherwise specified in these Bylaws. (c) The Treasurer shall represent the Association in assuring the receipt and expenditure of funds in accordance with the directive established by the OASERVIC Executive Board. The treasurer shall perform the duties customary to the office and such additional duties as may be directed by the OASERVIC Executive Board. (d) The Secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes of the Associative meeting. Section 3: Nomination and Election of Officers (a) The Nomination and Elections shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the OCA Policy Manual. ARTICLE IV Committees Section 1: Committees The committees of the Association shall consist of Standing and Special Committees. (a) With the approval of the membership, the President shall form Special Committees and designate the chair for each committee. Section 2: Standing Committees The Standing Committees shall be: (a) Awards Committee – The Awards Committee shall recommend to the OASERVIC Executive Board the recognition of individuals whose outstanding accomplishments exemplify the mission of OASERVIC. (b) Bylaws Committee – The purpose of the Bylaws Committee is to review and make recommendations for updating an revising the OASERVIC Bylaws. Section 3: Special Committees (a) The President and/ or membership may propose Special Committee as necessary for a term of one year. (b) Prior to the inauguration of a Special Committee, the President, the President – Elect shall examine the existing Standing Committees. In cases where the purposes of an existing Standing Committee are in agreement with those of the proposed Special Committee, the task or objective at hand shall be assigned as a subcommittee of the appropriate Standing Committee. The accomplishment of purposes, and thereby termination, of the subcommittee shall be determined by a consensus of the President, President – Elect, Chairperson for the Standing Committee and reported to the membership.
